1 minute read
Key Insights
Charities
Doctors Women 27 Women
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5Charities 5 Doctors 37 Interviews
and 39248092356732 92174325638491 insights
Insight 1: Women don't know what's normal with their bodies. This assumption was proven by doctors who mentioned the same. Women are not aware of basic things like- How much bleeding is too much?, What does a heavy flow indicate? Women end up normalizing symptoms like painful periods and heavy bleeding assuming it is something everyone goes through. This problem is worsened as the information on the internet is not always accurate.
Insight 2: Doctors do not have a clear picture. Women ofen find it difficult to talk about their periods and ofen do not mention all the symptoms they may be suffering from. This makes it difficult for doctors to get a clear picture and provide an accurate diagnosis.
Insight 3: Women diminish their own problems and only visit doctors when it's too late. Going to the doctor means losing a day's wage for women belonging to low-income groups. This social conditioning coupled with a fear of doctors and lack of monetary resources makes menstrual healthcare more inaccessible for women living in slums. Insight 4: Education in school is not enough as cycles change with age and the hormonal composition of our bodies. Which is why it is important to keep the conversation going for girls and women of all ages.
Insight 5: Charities mainly focus on adolescents to make them more aware of menstrual health and hygiene. This means that women are lef out of this conversation and isolated further even though they could be menstruating into their late 40s.
Insight 6: Lack of empathy from employers and workplaces further aggravates the problems that women face during menstruation. Even though corporates are trying to bring about change, this is a privilege that only the privileged can avail. Unskilled and daily wage laborers cannot afford to miss a day's work to look afer their health.
